About

For nearly three decades we've had the opportunity to roam Carneros, seeking the best Pinot Noir vineyards for our various bottlings. In the last twenty years these have included numerous small non-commercial amounts of select individual vineyard wines for our wine library. We watch how these wines age and how the expression of terroir is nuanced by the specifics of each growing season. We liked the results so we decided to go public with our venture into showcasing the outstanding plantings of the Carneros appellation.

While Lee Vineyard and Stanly Ranch have significant places in the viticultural history of Carneros, Toyon Farm’s history is that of a horse ranch, hence the “Kentuckyized” moniker “Farm”. Built originally as a Morgan Horse ranch, the property was bought by Ed and Camille Penhoet in the middle ’90s. Camille’s passion is dressage so the once Morgan Horse estate has been transformed into a dressage training facility extraodinaire. Toyon Farm lies about 500 meters east of our Brown Ranch estate vineyard while sandwiched in between these two estates lies another famous Carneros property, Hyde Vineyard.

Toyon Farm was planted in 2000 and 2001, in the ‘banana belt’ of Carneros, so called because in this northeastern corner of the appellation, the weather turns warmer a little earlier in the day and little fingers of soils of volcanic origin intermix with the more typical marine sedimentary clay-loams. It is no wonder that, texturally speaking, Toyon Farm and Brown Ranch pinots have more than a passing resemblance to each other in their fine-grained tannins and persistence and length on the palate.

The 2008 Saintsbury Toyon Farm Pinot Noir is hugely spicy in the nose displaying notes of cardamom, chai spice, forest floor and a touch of oak. A plush entry opens to mouth filling flavors of red fruits, plum, and hints of dried rose. This wine displays beautiful acidity, a broad full mouthfeel coupled with a lingering dark fruit finish.

Reviews

92 pts.Vintage: 2009
Wine SpectatorAugust 31, 2010

Marked by spicy anise, dried berry, cedar and mineral flavors that are tight and concentrated, this is medium-to-full-bodied, at points dense and concentrated, even chunky, ending with a loamy earth aftertaste. Drink now through 2018.

90 pts.Vintage: 2008
Burghound.comOctober, 2010

A fresh, complex and slightly floral mix of red and blue-tinged fruit nose introduces detailed and overtly vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive texture and culminate in a dusty, dry and mouth coating finish. This is really quite good and fashioned in a riper style. There is a touch of backend warmth though it’s almost invisible provided that the proper serving temperature is maintained.

87 pts.Vintage: 2007
Burghound.com4th Quarter, 2009

From Carneros fruit bottled at 14.5%. A pretty and relatively deeply pitched red and blue berry fruit nose...the delicious, rounded and suave medium-bodied flavors are seductive and quite forward, all wrapped in mouth coating finish.

90 pts.Vintage: 2006
Burghound.comOctober, 2008

A subtle but nonetheless beautifully complex nose features layered red fruit and spice notes that lead to equally complex middle weight flavors that possess fine depth and relief on the energetic and persistent finish. The acid is a bit more evident on the backend but it allows the finish to remain crisp and dry. Lovely in a reserved and understated style.

88 pts.Vintage: 2005
Wine SpectatorSeptember 30, 2007

Tight and firm, with rich, concentrated cola, wild berry, earth and mineral flavors that are intense, with herb and anise notes. Needs aeration. Drink now through 2011.

89 pts.Vintage: 2004
Wine Enthusiast MagazineOctober 2006

89 pts.Vintage: 2004
PinotReport Smart BuyMay/June, 2006

Good medium red. Exotic aromas of strawberry, sandalwood and tarry oak. Then juicy and vibrant in the mouth, with modest nuance but good energy and floral lift to its red berry flavors. Offers good mid-palate texture and sweetness, then finishes with some slightly dry-edged tannins.